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Zelensky Adviser: Logistics Of Humanitarian Corridors In Progress; Ukrainians Pouring Into Poland To Escape Russia's Invasion; Residents In Lviv, Ukraine Gear Up For A Fight; Interview With Oleksandra Ustinova, Ukrainian Parliament Member, About No-Fly Zone Over Ukraine And Russian Occupation Of Nuclear Plant. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired March 04, 2022 - 15:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[15:30:00]

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: During yesterday's talk, Russia and Ukraine agreed on one thing. Try to, at least in theory, establishing some humanitarian corridors to allow civilians safe passage from under attack. If that's going to actually happen remains to be seen. I spoke to an advisor to the Ukrainian President Zelensky about when or if those corridors will be open to civilians and if they'll keep people safe and if Russia will really agree to it. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: You talk about humanitarian corridors, when might that actually happen and can you actually trust Russia to honor that? They don't have a track record on humanitarian corridors.

MYKHAILO PODOLIAK, ADVISER TO THE HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE(through translator): The work on the logistics is now in progress. We are already developing evacuation routes and routes for resupply of food and medicines for many cities. Of course, we cannot exactly trust the Russian Federation because its current tactics is aimed at spreading panic among people.

This is achieved by destroying the civil infrastructure and evacuation points. Limiting people's ability to get local benefits such as food, drink and medical help. We believe that this is where we need help from the international humanitarian organizations. Because they can take the role of a mediator and ensure the agreement from both sides is kept when it comes to organizing the humanitarian corridors.

Secondly, what is more important is significant pressure from world leaders on Mr. Putin to make him realize the cost of human life and the need to facilitate the human corridors during the war.

COOPER: Would the corridors be in your mind permanent corridors or would they just for a certain amount of time?

PODOLIAK: Unfortunately, Russians are not agreeing to hold cease-fire in general. This is known. They are also not agreeing to establish permanent humanitarian corridors that would function both ways for supply and for evacuation. [15:35:00]

As of now, our main aim is to agree to establish at least temporary corridors that will function only during certain hours and to make sure the parties hold cease-fires throughout the corridor when it's in use. Let's say the corridor has been established. The shooting has been stopped for three hours so people can peacefully cross. Then afterwards, the fighting can resume again.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (on camera): Again, it remains to be seen whether any of that will actually happen. Russia does not have a good track record him on these humanitarian corridors, and as he was saying, they are not willing to have a cease-fire in order to allow this.

Let's go now to Sara Sidner in Medyka, Poland. Sara, I hope I got the right, just across the Ukrainian border. So far more than one million people have left Ukraine to a number of countries in this invasion. What's the situation like today where you are?

SARA SIDNER, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's just constant. And I'm so glad that you asked those questions. I mean, how is this going to change if there is no cease-fire because so far all we're seeing is people coming over the border. Mostly that is what we're seeing and it's mostly women and children. We've seen a will the of children today coming on foot over this border.

This border has both people coming by car and by foot in normal times. But now Poland has opened up the ability to go in any which way you can at any border, including by foot. But this used to be the only one where you could walk in. So, we are seeing quite a few people. There's lulls and you'll see a bus like that filled with people coming out of Ukraine and going into Poland in Przemysl in particular.

I do though want to share with you that we've noticed something that is the opposite of people coming out. That is, we're seeking people go into Ukraine. Just a few but they are all men so far that we've seen. So far, we've seen about a dozen men going in, in groups into Ukraine. And they have all told us the same story. They are from other part of the world. U.K., French Canadians, Americans. They are often veterans and that they going to fight alongside Ukrainians against Russia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We picked up a few guy and ready to join the fight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I went to Afghanistan twice and went against ISIS as well. Second time as a volunteer. We just met up at the airport. We need to push a lot of people at the front very quickly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Those men decided they wanted to go to the front. And like you heard them say, they are volunteers. None of them said they were getting paid and that they all met each other just randomly. The same as another group you'll hear about later on your show who are from the United States. Who just showed up here from places like Florida and South Dakota -- Anderson.

COOPER: Yes, fascinating. Sara Sidner, I really appreciate it, thank you so much.

Victor and Alisyn back to you in New York.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: We'll be back with you in a moment, Anderson, thank you very much.

So, Ukrainians are trying to defend their country however they can from Russian forces. Ukrainian Olympic medalist Stanislav Horuna says he is joining the fight against the Russian invasion. Horuna won a bronze medal in karate during last summer's Olympic games but he never dreamed he would have to take up arms to protect his country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STANISLAV HORUNA, UKRAINIAN OLYMPIC MEDALIST JOINS WAR EFFORT AGAINST RUSSIAN INVASION: I always represented my country in sport. But I could never imagine that I need to take the gun to protect my country. And like a few days before the war had started, many people were talking about this. But actually, nobody believed this can really happen. Nobody believed that there is anyone that crazy, that insane to start a war.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Let's bring in now Vasyl Mikula in Lviv who is also preparing to fight for his country. Vasyl, thank you very much. I know these are chaotic times and we appreciate talking to you. As I understand it, you are normally the head of a travel agency. You're not a soldier. So how are you preparing to fight for your country?

VASYL MIKULA, LVIV RESIDENT: That's right, correct. You know, I never had weapons in my hands but surely, I'm here to defend my country and my land. And for now, I'm doing whatever I can. I'm helping refugees. I'm setting up, you know, to bring any help from the West. To Ukraine I work on establishing here making our own armor vests, bulletproof vests here in Ukraine because it's impossible to buy them any place in Europe. So, I'm doing whatever I can to help my army.

[15:40:00]

CAMEROTA: Before I get to the -- Ok, let's talk about that. Before I get to all the humanitarian efforts that you are currently doing and I know that's a lot. Do you have weapons? I mean, beyond, you know, preparing bulletproof vest, do you know how to use a weapon? Do you have access to a weapon?

MIKULA: I went to school and they showed us how to shoot. But it was many years ago. I never after that took weapons in my hand and never applied for a weapon permit to have it. Some of my friends even laughed about that. But now, surely, I am ready to learn and to shoot again. I'm ready for that. CAMEROTA: I mean, you're making -- I think you and I are sort of

making light of this tense moment. You've already sent your wife and your two children, 10 and 12 years old out of Lviv to Poland. And you've stayed behind because you feel so strongly about this. Are you working in concert with an organization, with anyone in the Ukraine army or are you just doing this on your own?

MIKULA: Well, I applied to territorial defense system here in Lviv. But basically, there is a big line of people like me that want to fight for its own country. So, I'm waiting for a call and it might take some days, or even weeks or even months, you know, because the line is really big for those who want to fight. So, during the time I'm waiting I try to put all my efforts in establishing humanitarian aid for refugees and for army. Whatever I can do.

CAMEROTA: I know that you're trying to get people food and warm clothing. Is it hard to get people food? What's the situation in Lviv right now?

MIKULA: In Lviv it's pretty good. Because we have enough food and everything like that but the situation were unease. They're demanding more food and that's why co-directing this another organization to bring food to these places in the east.

CAMEROTA: We've seen people making Molotov cocktails just, you know, in own basements. And are you doing that?

MIKULA: Yes, surely, you know, they have expiration dates. So, we prepare everything to make it. So, as soon as we'll need it, I am ready to do it in 1/2 an hour, a bunch of them. So, yes, we're prepared to make them.

CAMEROTA: Vasyl Mikula please keep in touch with us. Let us know how you are. We obviously wish you and every one in Ukraine right now the best. And we'll check back with you.

MIKULA: Thank you. Thank you very much. And thank you for your help and support that you are giving to our country and be sure of, you know, this mobilization for our people, a zeal to the fight for our country.

CAMEROTA: We believe you. We believe you, Vasyl. It's obviously just a Herculean task right now. But thank you very much for your time.

MIKULA: Thank you.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: He's remarkable.

CAMEROTA: I mean, there you go. That's the spirit that we have been seeing. And that's the bravery but, of course, they are up against a lot.

BLACKWELL: Yes, and with president says, we'll fight on the ground. We will take care of it here. We need help from the sky. The guns that he has, the Molotov cocktail ingredients said he has are no match for that superiority -- not supremacy -- that superiority from Russia in the sky.

All right, after the attack last night at Europe's largest nuclear power plant, Russian troops are inside forcing management to work at gun point. We'll speak to a member of the Ukrainian Parliament who says the world is not doing enough to stop this.

[15:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Right now, Europe's largest nuclear power plant is occupied by Russian forces who are forcing Ukrainian management there to do their jobs are gun point. That's according to the company responsible for the complex. It's the result of this scene last night. And the fears of a nuclear catastrophe after the plant came under attack by Russian forces.

With me now is member of the Ukrainian Parliament Oleksandra Ustinova. Ms. Ustinova, thank you for your time now. The Russian forces took control of the Chernobyl facility early on in the invasion. And now according to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, forces are closing in on a third nuclear facility. What do you think the goal is here of the Russians in taking control of these facilities?

OLEKSANDRA USTINOVA, UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT MEMBER: I can explain it easily. Because Putin is a bully. And he is using the nuclear plants -- the nuclear factories right now in Ukraine to blackmail the rest of the world and Europe is the number one target for the blackmailing. Because if you put some fire at least one nuclear station, you should understand it's going be the biggest world disaster we have ever seen.

Because for example, the nuclear station that was hijacked literally yesterday, it is ten times bigger than Chernobyl is. If it goes on fire, it's worse than the nuclear bomb in the center of Europe. Unfortunately, they didn't let our firefighters to go and stop the fire yesterday. So, they were literally shot to death, these brave men who are trying to help. And it took a lot of time to persuade Russians to let us go inside and just stop the fire. So, Putin is bullying the world right now because unfortunately, the world is not doing enough to stop him.

[15:50:00]

We keep saying that unfortunately Putin (INAUDIBLE) it takes only strong power as a response. So far, the response was really soft.

BLACKWELL: So, let's talk about that. The Secretary General of NATO said that he was asked, of course, about the no-fly zone which officials in your country have asked for, said that we can control this on the ground. We will fight but we need help to control the sky. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: We are not part of this conflict and we have a responsibility to ensure it does not escalate and spread beyond Ukraine. Because that would be even more devastating and more dangerous. With even more human suffering.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: They are not part of this conflict. What's your reaction to what you heard there?

USTINOVA: First of all, I would like to tell Mr. Stoltenberg, this is not a conflict. This is an open war. And I would like everybody to stop, especially politicians, calling it a conflict. Because that's how it makes it easier for them. In conflicts, one country does not invade another country. And they're not bombing civilian populations by thousands every day. Children's hospital, orphanages. So, they don't want to admit this is an open war, even though the rest of the world is watching this public execution of Ukrainians 24/7 and they understand what it is.

Secondly, they keep saying that we are not a part of this conflict. I would like to remind, that in the '90s, Ukraine was a nuclear power and we gave up our nuclear weapons and had promises. We had a treaty signed with the United States, the United Kingdom and Russia. That if anything happened to our sovereignty. If it is in danger, then these countries would step in. So, NATO keep saying there is a NATO country that is being attacked, we will step in. We had been promised the same 20 years ago. And nothing is happening.

The second thing that they keep manipulating about is, the no-fly zone. The no-fly zone is only about the airplanes. We also keep asking for the air defense systems, like the iron dome that Israel has so we can put down, shoot down their missiles, their bombs coming from example, Chernobyl. They put all of their military machines that are shooting missiles at Kyiv at the Chernobyl nuclear station so that we cannot attack it. Because we understand as normal people that this can be a disaster.

And in this case, if we do not shut down the sky, if we don't have the special air defense that can be provided. This is technical. We cannot protect our civilian population.

I would also like to say, and I think people should know the truth. When we are being told that U.S. put strong sanctions on Russia, this is a big lie. Because put sanctions on the Russian economy but you excluded the energy sector which is the number one income for Putin. You switched off SWIFT but only for seven days out of 300 -- seven out of 300. You called that sanctions?

Yesterday we saw sanctions on the Russian oligarchs. Well, the Russian oligarchs like (INAUDIBLE) who is close to Putin, he was excluded from the sanctions. I totally understand, he has a lot of business in the United States. He has three steel companies running in the United States. But we should admit that that we don't want to take extra money out of our pockets. And the world will be silent.

BLACKWELL: We certainly -- with the White House about that. Especially about those Russian oil imports. There are some politicians here in the U.S. who say it's time for that. The administration says it is not something they're prepared to do right now as they're balancing the availability of oil on the market. Ukrainian Parliament member, Oleksandra Ustinova, thank you so much.

USTINOVA: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: The Pentagon says that actions by Ukrainians have stalled that large Russian military convoy that was headed in the direction of Kyiv. What's the status? We have new details ahead.

[15:55:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Russia's invasion, the missile attack near the Holocaust Memorial in Kyiv earlier this week, so much of what we're seeing in Ukraine is really evoking these memories of World War II and for Ukraine's Holocaust survivors.

CAMEROTA: So now they're in their 80 and 90s and the crisis hits especially close to home for them.

2014 CNN hero Zane Buzby has been helping this vulnerable population across Eastern Europe. CNN's Wolf blitzer caught up with her in Los Angeles.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR (voice over): Many explosions in and around Kyiv, the largest invasion in Europe since World War II.

ZANE BUZBY, 2014 CNN HERO: This is terrible for the Ukrainian people and absolutely horrendous for the Holocaust survivors. A lot of these people are the last person in their family, the only one who survived. These people went through this once already. And so, for them, something like this triggers all this trauma. She's holding a picture of her family that was killed.

In Ukraine, right now we have right now just under 350 survivors who were helping. They're spread out across this vast country. They don't have extended families. So, they're very lonely as well. The early memories come back and haunt them at night so we have our translators and our people on the ground over there making sure they're OK.

We spoke to her daughter only yesterday so she's OK. We don't want food sources to run out. We're getting them as much medication as possible now. Because who knows in two weeks what's going to happen? These are the people who we have caregivers for. So, they're kind of going through this together. The important thing is to give them comfort and care just like a family. And that's what we bring them.

This was the woman who said, you are like a daughter, a grandchild, and a niece and a friend all in one. We have to make sure these survivors are not left alone during this devastating time. It's been logistic difficult but we're doing it.

[16:00:00]

It's so important that they know they haven't been forgotten. (END VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: Gosh, no one should live through this once, much less twice. To find out how you can support Zane's work and nominate your own CNN hero, go to CNNheroes.com.

BLACKWELL: And "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right now.